Advice from Last Year's New Parents - New Camper Blog Series

Welcome back new camper families! You are in for a treat today for our New Camper Blog series. At the end of last summer, we asked our new camper families from 2023 to tell us what advice they would give to YOU, our new camper families of 2024. And boy, did they deliver! We hope you’ll enjoy reading suggestions from camp families that were in your same shoes last year, sending their daughters for the first time. Enjoy!

Download the songs and listen to them before camp! She wishes she had known them better!!!
Do not skimp on clothing and follow the packing guide list!
Prepare for the packing process early. Read and re-read the list and discuss with your daughter what was actually packed and where to find it.
Buy the rectangular like boxes and pack all clothes in them. They nest in the drawer AND trunk perfectly. So organized. Don’t send anything nice that you care about seeing back…only send what will let girls focus on having fun!! Get ready to have your girls want to be a Greystone camper forever!
I think the biggest undertaking is the packing element! I also think that our girls wanted to make sure they are prepared similarly to their cabinmates, so specific pictures from camp life about what the inside of their drawers look like, toiletry baskets, storage cubes etc…is helpful!
Make sure you tell your child to take a shower. My daughter didn’t take one for days.
Make sure to bring letters to drop off so your daughter has mail the first day, and seriously do not worry about whether she’s going to love it - she will!
If you read all the information provided via blog, mail, emails then you will be all set and prepared!
It helped for my daughter to watch the videos online when she started getting nervous about going to spend the night camp for the first time.
Read the emails! Whatever your question is was probably answered :)

Join the parent group on Facebook and read the blogs!
Read everything and take the time to explore the website with your daughter.
Relax! The girls are going to have a wonderful week, and the staff is absolutely amazing!
I would access the Facebook group and do the Parent Penpal program (registration ends tomorrow - April 10th!). Both of those were super helpful in navigating our first year at camp!
Write and mail letters a few days before camp starts to ensure kiddos get at least a couple things in the mail.
Take a tour if you have the opportunity.
Tell your daughter often leading up to drop off how amazing camp is going to be–because it will be. Remind her that if she has any concern or problem or is feeling sad or lonely, the adults around her really want to know and will be so happy that she told them.
Giving them the confidence to be and feel independent is such an important gift for you child. The pure joy on my daughter’s face when we picked her up because she was so excited to tell us all about her adventures, and how much she continues to talk about Greystone lets me know it’s a special place.
Don’t request hometown friends! You will see them at home, and camp is about friends you make from other places!
Greystone is amazing! Our 7 year old attending Junior Camp this summer and absolutely loved it! Be sure to talk with you daughter about missing her family the first night. Once our girlie got over the first night she was golden! (Her counselors loved on her so much, we are so thankful). When we picked her up on Closing Day her exact words, sitting on her top bunk were, “Can I come back for August session this summer!?”

Parents, if you cry in the parking lot after drop off…we feel ya! Haha
Label all your kid’s clothes!
I would tell a new camper family that their daughter is in great hands, that their daughter will feel very welcomed at drop-off (and that the quick drop-off is a good thing), that the methodology as to why the campers do the things they do (as explained in Jimboy’s daily blog posts) is solid, and that, between all the photos and the ability to “email” your daughter, you will feel very connected.
Request to be with your Penpal and keep writing if your Penpal doesn’t write back right away. It would be fun to do a pre-camp meet up for ice cream if you and your Penpal are in town earlier.
Relax and enjoy the experience! A little bit of homesickness and discomfort is healthy and promotes growth and well-being.
Discuss your daughter’s desired activities as a family. Look over all the good scheduling information ahead of time.
Call the camp and ask questions, because every time we did so we were amazed at how helpful, thoughtful, and kind we found the voice on the other end to be.
Make sure to check your daughter’s Greystone Store balance.
Pack fun costumes/dress up things!
Tell your camper to take a class they wouldn’t normally do at home because it is a great time to learn something new!
Tell your daughter to smile for the camera so you can see what she is up to! And nothing to worry about, she will have a blast!
Greystone is exceedingly communicative, and you’ll have almost all of your questions answered before they even arise! If a question or worry comes up, don’t hesitate to reach out in one of the many platforms (by emailing staff, by posting on the parent Facebook page, by emailing your Parent Penpal, etc.) because I’m certain that every one of them will reply quickly and thoroughly – they did for us!
Prepare and budget for many years at camp :)